11 Afro hair salons in London that actually know how to work an Afro
Afro hair salons are a hot commodity, but somewhat unicorns in the Western hair industry. Afro haired girlies have suffered. Finding a trusty spot that will be able to cater to the needs of our naturally deep curls and coils is no easy task. The search for the right hair salon can be as stressful as having to learn how to do hair ourselves, but when you have Afro hair, those stress levels sky-rocket.
A study by Habia revealed that there are over 35,000 beauty salons in the UK, but only 1% are Afro-Caribbean hair specialist registered salons. If we take into consideration the two million Black people living in the UK, it means that only one per cent of all hair salons are able to serve ten per cent of the population. In fact, many women living outside the big cities will opt to travel miles to get their hair done in London.
However, even London being the multicultural melting pot that it is, (hosting 44% of Black and ethnic minorities), can still fail all the Afro-haired babes out there and it's still considerably hard to find your ideal hair salon.
If you knock on the wrong door two things can happen. One: you can be turned down, and two: you come out worse than how you went in. Due to the complexity of textured hair, finding the right hands to handle your coils is a task that must be taken seriously. Do not be lured in simply based on the fact that you see a the lady with curly hair on their marketing posters. Doing your research is essential.
So, to save you a few heart palpitations and dud haircuts, we rounded up the best hair salons in London that specialise in Afro hair.
For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona
Best for natural hair and extensions
Where: 347 Portobello Rd, London W10 5SA
The hype: Owner Charlotte Mensah has been awarded 'Afro Hairdresser Of The Year' three times. Sharing her wisdom among her staff, these guys know their way around a natural afro. Charlotte also has her own styling range designed specifically for all curly hair types.Contact: charlottemensah.com, @charlottemensah
Best for protective hairstyles
Where: 79 Kingsgate Road, London, NW6 4JY
The Hype: Founded by a mother and daughter duo, whose love for natural beauty and hair encouraged them to start a business that catered for Black women. At Simply Gorgeous, you can get braids, weaves, cornrows, gel twists, trims… the list goes on. Here you can trust your hair in the hands of the women that really know how to navigate around your afro kinks and coils.Contact: simplyghair.com, @simplyg_hair
Best for trimming and styling fros
Where: 18 Motcomb St, Belgravia, London SW1X 8LB
The hype: With the high honour of an MBE from the Queen, Errol Douglas is somewhat of a legend in the hairdressing world. He's tended to quite a few famous 'fros, including Diana Ross and Lenny Kravitz. Senior Stylist, Leroy Koh, is his right-hand man and works especially well with 'Asian and Oriental hair.'Contact: erroldouglas.com, @erroldouglasldn
Best for chemically treated hair
Where: 235 Fore St, London N18 2TZ
The hype: If the name didn't already give it away, this salon prides itself on its specialist services for afro and mixed race hair. Head here if you're after straightening, relaxing, weaves or extensions.Contact: afrotherapysalon.com, @afrotherapy
Best for innovative styling
Where: 186 Lavender Hill, Battersea, London SW11 5TQ
The hype: Winning a multitude of awards, including Best Afro Hair Salon in 2016, the entire staff at Hype Coiffure are trained on all things afro hair. But it's their friendly and welcoming attitude that really set this salon apart.Contact: hypecoiffure.com, @hypecoiffureuk
Best for runway-like looks
Where? 55 Kensington Church St, Kensington, London W8 4BA
Why the hype? Among many other awards, Junior Green has also received the title of 'Afro Hairdresser Of The Year' three times, propelling him to Hall of Fame status. If you're a soon-to-be bride, he's the best in the business for creating wedding hairstyles for natural, permed and relaxed afro hair.Contact: junior-green.com, @juniorgreenhair
Best for defining curls
Where: 210 Middle Lane, London, N8 7LA
The Hype: Founded by content creator and hair enthusiast Nia The Light. The Curl Bar London was created as a safe space for women with naturally curly hair to feel embraced and catered to. With each appointment tailored to your individual needs, each client will have a consultation to learn exactly what they want out of the service.Contact: thecurlbarlondon.com, @thecurlbarlondon
Best for gender neutral pricing
Where: 60 Charlotte Rd, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3QT
The Hype: With three salons across London, (Wembley, Shoreditch and Shepherd's Bush) the Chop-chop hair franchise which are the brainchild of Kaye Sotomi who wanted to create a space where unlike most other salons customers would not be unfairly charged different prices based on gender, but based on the time it takes to complete the service. Stylists at Chop-chop are also specially trained by the best in the industry to work with a multitude of different hair types. So your curls and coils will be in safe hands.Contact: chopchoplondon.com, @chopchopldn
Best for epic braiding styles
Where: 205 Blackstock Rd, Highbury East, London, N5 2LL
The Hype: Although you can still get high quality silk press, weaves and relaxed styles, at Ebony B, the braiding styles are one of a kind. Impeccable symmetry and glossy finish on the most creative braiding styles. At this salon, you can count on walking out a more confident and better you...Contact: ebonyb.co.uk, @hairbyebonyb
